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NSCC W. K. Morrison Special Collection

This Collection was donated to NSCC COGS by Walter Morrison, Cartographer Emeritus of COGS who was interested in antique maps as an illustration of the evolution of map making technology. It is a mixed media print collection of historical maps, atlases, periodicals and books that is focused on the early mapping of Atlantic Canada and specifically Nova Scotia. There are over 2000 items in the print collection; we invite you to follow us as we grow our digital collection.

Pages

Chart tracing Cook's search for the great southern continent, circling but not reaching Antarctica, with the southern portion of South American, the Cape of Good Hope, and New Zealand shown. Polar stereographic map showing Cook's progress on board the Resolution through the southern hemisphere. Along the vessel track are descriptions of discoveries along the way, including his calculated antipode of London to the SE of New Zealand. This volume includes the Declaration of Independence, published in August 1776., Scale and extentent derived via georeferencing.

It's interesting that a map purporting to show treaty boundaries shows no boundaries between the states, but it's clearly representative of the time the map was made; the very first instance of this map by John Purcell was drawn circa 1788., London is used as the prime meridian. Scale is measured in units of British miles 69 1/2 = 1 degree.

Map of work showing latest discoveries but pre-dating explorations of Cook. Notes on map include: "Discovered in 1741," noting Russian discoveries. Another note, "Land discovered in 1741," notes an early discovery in the Aleutian Islands. New Holland is partially formed and only the western coastline of New Zealand is delineated. The west coast of North American is labeled New Albion and a note in the Pacific reads "Land discovered in 1741, see Gent. Mag. Vol. 24." The entire eastern coast of Australia is indicated as unknown by a dotted line and Van Diemens Land is still connected to the continent. Only the western coast of New Zealand is shown. Cape Circumcision floats alone in the south Atlantic well below the Cape of Good Hope., Map of the earth, African Central. Map has heavy distortion around Australia, and Northern Canada. Prime Meridian is Ferro. Scale was determined by measuring between latitude.

Map of coastlines around the Baltic Sea including Russia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, and Sweden. Some small etchings of tress is present as are dotted lines indicating the march pathway taken by the Russians on their way to Prussia., Map of the Baltic Sea. Prime Meridian is based in Tenerife. There is one scale bar in the bottom right hand corner of the map, in English Miles. Map reads with north facing to the top of the map.

Relief shown by hachures. The map shows a river connection between Slave Lake and the Pacific through Cook's River. This was a theory expounded by Pond. With first two pages of text, pp 197, 198, from Gentleman's Magazine, titled: "Description of the Country from Lake Superior to Cook's River. Extract of a Letter from someone of Quebec, to a Friend in London. This intriguing map is based on the map and report by Peter Pond in 1787. The map traces the route from Lake Superior to Lake Winnipeg and then through an interconnected chain of lakes and rivers to Arabaska Lake and Slave Lake. The most interesting feature is the speculative river flowing out of Slave Lake, over "falls said to be the largest in the known world," and emptying into Cook Inlet in Alaska, a remarkable journey considering the topography. Pond's map influenced Alexander Mackenzie's quest to find the Northwest Passage in his famous expedition in the region., A map displaying major Canadian waterways from the area around Nipigon, Ontario, to Cook Inlet, Alaska. Of note are the many differing names for lakes and rivers throughout the map. The falls west of Slave Lake (presently Great Slave Lake) are likely Virginia Falls, NWT. The inaccuracy of the mapping of the western and northern areas of the map make accurate georeferencing impossible without higher order transformations/local rubber sheeting. Longitude is taken from the London Meridian

Map depicting routes of French and Allied armies in Germany during engagements by dash lines., A map of Germany. Prime Meridian is unknown due to lack of information and graticule. Scale bar in English Miles. Map was referenced with data acquired from USGS's Earth Explorer.

Elaborate cartouche decorated with tree foliage. Distance key located at bottom left inset with plan depicting advancement of the Prussian Army over the Austrians. Three scale bars on plan. The uppermost map noting figures on road in German miles. Map details roads and regions., Map of Germany and other surrounding countries. Map reads with North facing just slightly to the top left of the map. Maps coordinates were performed with Graticule math. There are two Prime Meridians, The top is based out of London, the bottom meridian is based from Ferro. There is an inset map of North Germany. Although the inset map and the legend exceed the bottom of the map, the graticule surrounds it all, thus for making the extent of the map the full encloser, including the inset map and legend.

Map is detail of the area from Temlin in the Upper Marck to the north, south to Iuterbock, and East to Land Sternberg and New Marck. Named cities include: Drossen, Sonneburg, and Lippen., A map of Germany. Prime Meridian is unknown due to lack of information and graticule. One scale bar, represented in Common Leagues. Map reads with South facing to the top of the map. Most of the city's names on the map have been changed or altered.

Map of Germany and Poland, including the cities of Breslaw (Breslau or Wroclaw), Trebnitz (Trzebnica) and Gnesna (Gniezno). Berlin is located at center of map and all surrounding regions are indicated., Map of Upper Saxony, Located in North Germany. Prime Meridian is London. Two scale bars on the map, one in English Miles, the other in German Miles.

Decorative cartouche. Extends from the Virgin Islands south to Trinidad, including Barbados. Shows cities, capes, harbors, bays and shoals, but has no topographical detail within islands., Map of the Caribbean Islands, Prime Meridian is London. Map reads with North facing to the top.

Circular map polar projection showing the "icy great North Sea" south to mid Asia and America along the Northwest Coast of America, Northeast Coast of Asia and Arctic Circle. A route from Japan to Portugal is shown around the apocryphal island of Jeso or Yesso. Map shows version of the mythical Sea of the West connecting via dotted lines to Hudson's Bay. Map shows no land masses near the poles., A map of the North Pole. Circular map, no corner coordinates recorded. Prime Meridian is Paris.

Map of islands showing crisscrossing compass roses to aid navigation, a ornately scroll-motif cartouche, and soundings by fathom. Includes inset: East View of Castle Cornet. An account of the islands begins on page 147., The scale bar is in English miles, and London is used to the prime meridian; the scale was calculated from the scale bar and the coordinates were calculated from the map's graticule.

Hand drawn East View of Castle Cornet, Guernsey, from the East in the upper left corner. Ornate cartouche. Explanation legend at bottom left detailing places of anchorage, rocks above and at low water, etc. Copper engraved map of the Channel islands, with a small inset view "East View of Castle Cornet" at the upper left corner. Royce sc at the lower right., Graticule primarily in minutes with no degree written to act as reference for measuring latitude; each minute is further subdivided into units of 10 ; longitude is calculated from the London Meridian. Coordinates calculated from map graticule.